White House: Military Action In Iraq To Be 'Very Limited In Scope'

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest emphasized Friday that the military mission in Iraq authorized by President Obama Thursday night would be limited in scope.

"The authorization that the president has given for military action is very limited in scope," Earnest said in a press briefing at the White House.

Earnest went on to outline three situations in which the Obama administration would use military force in Iraq: to protect U.S. personnel in the country, to aid tens of thousands of religious minorities that are hemmed in by Islamic militants in Northern Iraq, and to support the Iraqi government in repelling the militants, who belong to the Islamic State group.

Two U.S. fighter jets dropped bombs Friday on Islamic militants towing a piece of artillery near Irbil, where American troops were stationed.

Earnest said he had no updates to share about further military action in Iraq.